6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Washington County, Oregon.
Verified from official government sources
Urban unincorporated Washington County allows backyard chickens in R-5/R-6/R-9 zones with hen-only rules; roosters prohibited outside EFU/AF zones. Larger livestock restricted to AF-5, AF-10, AF-20, and EFU lands protected under Oregon Right to Farm (ORS 30.930).
Washington County requires all dogs to be on a physical leash of 7 feet or shorter when off the owner's property, controlled by someone capable of handling them. All dogs must be licensed with the county at 6 months of age. Unleashed dogs may be impounded.
Washington County does not enforce breed-specific legislation. Oregon state law (ORS 609.095) uses behavior-based criteria for potentially dangerous dogs. The county focuses on individual dog behavior rather than breed identification.
Beekeeping is regulated at the state level by the Oregon Department of Agriculture under ORS Chapter 596. Washington County does not impose additional restrictions on beekeeping in unincorporated areas. Roosters and male peacocks are not regulated in urban unincorporated Washington County.
Oregon prohibits keeping exotic animals without a valid ODA permit issued before January 1, 2010, or as provided under ORS 609.351. Washington County Health and Human Services handles exotic animal issues. Counties may enact additional restrictions.
Oregon ORS 496.731 authorizes ODFW officers to order removal of wildlife attractants for bear, cougar, coyote, and wolf. Washington County has no standalone wildlife feeding ordinance, but feeding creating a nuisance is enforceable under Chapter 8.20.
4 cities in Washington County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Washington County Ordinance Hub →